Page plans to release new music in 2010, but it is unlikely to be with any incarnation of Led Zeppelin, despite having spent a considerable amount of time and energy this year trying to follow up their 2008 reunion.
"You'd better ask Robert Plant what the future of Led Zeppelin is," he says, rather pointedly. "Musicians can always play together but I don't think you can go out with a band called Led Zeppelin if you haven't got the original vocalist."
Page's disappointment in the way things have turned out is tangible, but whether with his most legendary band or not, he continues to find creative expression in his chosen instrument.
"Its such a tactile instrument, it moulds into your personality," says Page. "Give three guitarists the same guitar and ask them to play the same song, it'll come out different. Even people who have only been playing for a short time, untrained musicians, you can recognise their character in their playing.
"If I'm going to put time into the guitar, I'm interested in moving it on from wherever I am at this point in time. My whole approach, in retrospect, was trying to break through to the other side without actually smashing up guitars, I didn't see any sense in that. The guitar was to be encouraged into new territories, whether it wanted to go there or not."
Page laughs, as if cautious of sounding too precious or pretentious. "I'm making it up as I go along," he declares, cheerfully, "but that's how I play!"
Monstersandcritics.com is reporting:
Former LED ZEPPELIN singer Robert Plant wants to spend New Year's Eve in the arms of a woman.
The 61-year-old rocker - who has famously lived a life of sex, drugs and rock n roll excess - admitted he will be looking for love over the holiday season.
He said: "Where would I like to welcome in the New Year? In some warm, tantalizing arms."
Although he is looking forward to celebrating New Year's Eve, the singer isn't looking forward to the next decade because all it holds for him is "more attention to bladder control".
He added: "I don't think I've aged gracefully. When you can feel the breeze of the Grim Reaper, there's nothing graceful about that fear, because I'm only a third of the way through the adventures I want to have."
However, the star has made some New Year's Resolutions - to improve his driving.
He explained: "I park my car by touch, using the wheels as a guide to when I've hit the curb."
Legendary Britiash rockers URIAH HEEP have issued the following year-end update:
"To Heepsters all over the world. This is to wish you all a fantastic New Year, and we hope that you have a brilliant 2010 that brings you everything that you desire. It will be a great year for Uriah Heep, with lots of exciting tours etc, and I hope that we get to see you all, in your respective countries.
We are very proud of our fans, and your support is wonderful ,and something that we appreciate so very much. After the success of the last European tour of 2009, we feel that we have a strong foundation with which to build upon, and under the guidance of our manager Martin Darvill, who is steering the ship, there is a solid confidence that anything is possible.
Have a drink or two in celebration of the New Year for us, as we will certainly be having one for you all."
In 2009, to celebrate their 40th anniversary, Uriah Heep decided to look back to their past without melancholy or nostalgia with their new album, Celebration.
The band re-recorded twelve of their most successful songs : classis like 'Free Me', 'Gypsy', 'The Wizard', 'Easy Livin'' and of course their all-time smash hit 'Lady In Black'.
In addition to that they have composed and recorded two completely new songs as a special gift to their fans: 'Only Human' and 'Corridors Of Madness', two of their best tracks in years.
Celebration features a DVD with Uriah Heep's outstanding live-show at the legendary Sweden Rock Festival 2009.
The tracklisting:
CD:
'Only Human' (new track)
'Bird Of Prey' (new version)
'Sunrise' (new version)
'Stealin'' (new version)
'Corridors Of Madness' (new track)
'Between Two Worlds' (new version)
'The Wizard' (new version)
'Free Me' (new version)
'Free And Easy' (new version)
'Gypsy' (new version)
'Look At Yourself' (new version)
'July Morning' (new version)
'Easy Livin'' (new version)
'Lady In Black' (new version)
DVD - Live at Sweden Rock Festival 2009:
'Sunrise'
'Stealin''
'Gypsy'
'Look At Yourself'
'July Morning'
'Easy Livin''
'Lady In Black'
Transworldnews.com is reporting:
Steven Tyler, the lead singer of AEROSMITH , has entered a treatment program for an addiction to pain medications. Tyler, 61, has had a ten year history of chronic pain from injuries resulting from life on the road. Dr. Brian McKeon, assistant clinical professor of orthopedics at the Tufts School of Medicine, says that Tyler has suffered from continual orthopedic injuries that have caused him severe pain over the past decade.
Experts say that prior substance abuse is a risk factor for prescription drug addiction. Tyler has struggled with heavy drug and alcohol abuse during the band's heyday in the seventies and early eighties. Many celebrities, athletes and ordinary people struggle with an addiction to prescription pain medication brought on by an injury.
According to the Office of National Drug Policy, since 1995 visits to the emergency room resulting from painkiller abuse has risen 163 percent in the United States. Many physicians think that not treating chronic pain sufficiently contributes to patients developing an addiction. Although most patients with chronic pain will, in general, be able to use the drugs without a problem, some people have other contributing factors that will fuel the development of an addiction.
Therockradio.com is reporting:
Paul Stanley hardy gets star struck, but says that being introduced to Jimmy Page in 1976 was one of the greatest meetings of his life. Stanley spoke to The Las Vegas Sun and recalled that during the recording of KISS' Destroyer album, he finally met one of his greatest inspirations, remembering, "LED ZEPPELIN was mixing The Song Remains The Same soundtrack, and we were coming into the studio after them. We were in the lobby, and Jimmy came up and he knew who I was, and who the band was. It was stunning. Not five years earlier, I was in the audience, watching Led Zeppelin with my mouth open, just not believing it."
Stanley, who'll turn 58 on January 20th, says that the things that spurred him and KISS to super-stardom still drives the band to carry on: "There's no substitute for the enormous crowds, or the response or the mania that we see and that's directed at us. There's no substitute for me getting up onstage and having 15,000 people calling my name - y'know, all the accoutrement, all the stuff that goes along with it... the women, everything."
Legendary actor Christopher Lee, who has appeared in such cinematic milestones as "Lord Of The Rings", "Star Wars", "The Man with the Golden Gun" and "Dracula", will release "Charlemagne", a concept album with original words and symphonic metal music, on March 15, 2010.
Composer Marco Sabiu, best known for his collaborations with Kylie Minogue, TAKE THAT, Pavarotti and Morricone, has created a truly epic canvas by introducing modern metal symphonies, in a style which resembles a movie score. Marie-Claire Calvet, a graduate from Bristol University, transports the listener into "The Dark Ages", with a very powerful storyline and mesmerizing lyrics. A full orchestra, heavy metal musicians, choir and special guest vocalists bring the legend of Charlemagne to life.
Lee has previously collaborated with MANOWAR and RHAPSODY OF FIRE.
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/charlemagnemusical.
According to LivingInPeru.com, GUNS N' ROSES and JANE'S ADDICTION will perform at Monumental Stadium Esplanade in Lima, Peru on March 25, 2010.
Peruvian businessman Alberto Menacho from Artes & Eventos revealed that, after extensive negotiations, he managed to get GUNS N' ROSES to finish its Latin American tour in Lima.
He told El Comercio (see video below) that both groups will play complete shows in Lima, refuting reports that JANE'S ADDICTION will act as GUNS N' ROSES' support band.
Tickets will go on sale in early January, and prices will range from S/. 50 soles (approximately $16) to S/. 600 soles (approximately $200).
GUNS N' ROSES has issued the following update via Twitter :
"Contrary 2 false reports, claims n' rumors , JANE'S ADDICTION is 'not' performing on the Guns N' Roses South American leg of r Chinese Democracy World Tour. Sometimes agents n' promoters get carried away w/things on their own. R apologies 4 any confusion. Happy New Year!!"
VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan has penned the latest installment of his weekly column, which appears every Thursday on Reverb at SeattleWeekly.com. An excerpt follows below.
"My band, GUNS N' ROSES, was in shambles, and suddenly the dynamic had changed. Not too long after I got out of the hospital, Axl [Rose] came up to Seattle to visit me. The challenge was how we were going to make a new record and what direction we were going to go musically. We couldn't very well do anything at the time because Slash was out doing a SNAKEPIT tour and battling his own addiction. In previous years, there had seemed to be a fail-proof alliance and understanding within our band; we knew that at the end of the day we only had each other to rely on. Now I was doing sober things with Axl, like riding mountain bikes and eating healthy food and talking on the phone about a productive musical direction. That sense of family and trust had recently been tainted by management dealings and other wedges that did everything possible to vanquish our bonds.
"Looking back now, it is all so fucking clear. But then and there in the moment, I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that outside forces could be so selfish and money-grubbing. These were the hard lessons I would finally learn to live with, although never by."
MEGADETH frontman Dave Mustaine , TESTAMENT's Chuck Billy, and SLAYER members Tom Araya and Kerry King were interviewed for the February 2010 issue of Decibel Magazine, which features a cover story on the upcoming American Carnage tour. An excerpt from the article, featuring Mustaine discussing his relationship with King and Slayer is available below
"There was a period where we didn't get along," he admits. "[But] I was in my dressing room in Japan last month and [Slayer drummer] Dave Lombardo comes in and said some really great stuff to me. Then I get off stage and Kerry is in there. It's like, wow, this is really, really cool. I took [King] aside and said, 'What did I do that pissed you off so bad? Because I'd really like to go back to when we were friends.'"
He is also apparently contrite for past transgressions. Sort of. "Whatever I said [in the past], whatever I did was regrettable. Probably a portion of it was not necessary. Probably a portion of it was necessary for me, but that doesn't mean that it was necessary for anybody else. We all say stuff… that's 19 years ago."
And, given the opportunity to prove his loyalty with, uh, brute force, Mustaine is willing to go there, too. "If Kerry and I were ever anywhere and somebody was trying to hurt him," he says, "I would stand by his side. I may not be his friend, but I consider him a friend of mine. For whatever has been said or done, I have been forgiven for a lot of terrible stuff, so how can I not forgive anybody? I've apologized to those guys, and I think we're on really good standing right now."
Go to this location for the complete Mustaine portion of the story.
As previously reported, Megadeth Ultimate Fan Packages for the upcoming American Carnage tour are now available to the general public at ILoveAllAccess.com. Packages include concert ticket in first 10 rows or priority access with general admission ticket, meet 'n greet and photo op with Megadeth, pre-show party, exclusive Megadeth gift bag, early entrance to venue, and more. Packages are limited. Click here for details.
Megadeth's complete American Carnage schedule, also featuring SLAYER and TESTAMENT, is as follows:
January
18 - WaMu Theatre - Seattle, WA
19 - Memorial Coliseum - Portland, OR
21 - Cow Palace - San Francisco, CA
22 - Long Beach Arena - Long Beach, CA
23 - Dodge Theatre - Phoenix, AZ
25 - Magness Arena - Denver, CO
26 - Tingley Coliseum - Albuquerque, NM
27 - El Paso Coliseum - El Paso, TX
29 - Verizon Wireless - Houston, TX
31 - Municipal Auditorium - Nashville, TN
February
1 - Gwinnett Arena - Duluth, GA
2 - Broadbent Arena - Louisville, KY
4 - Roy Wilkins Auditorium - Minneapolis, MN
5 - UIC Pavilion - Chicago, IL
6 - Cobo Arena - Detroit, MI
9 - Chevrolet Theatre - Wallingford, CT
11 - Izod Center - East Rutherford, NJ
12 - Civic Center - Glens Falls, NY
14 - Tsongas Arena - Lowell, MA
16 - Pavillon de la Jeunesse - Quebec City, QC
18 - John Labatt Centre - London, ON
19 - Air Canada Centre - Toronto, ON
20 - Bell Centre - Montreal, QC
22 - Moncton Coliseum - Moncton, NB
23 - Metro Centre - Halifax, NS
Chuck Billy (TESTAMENT), Tom Araya (SLAYER), Kerry King (SLAYER) and Dave Mustaine (MEGADETH) were interviewed for the February 2010 issue of Decibel magazine (order online), which features a cover story on the upcoming "American Carnage" tour. The Mustaine section of the story follows in its entirety below (reproduced with the kind permission of Decibel magazine).
Story by Adem Tepedelen
Although we don't necessarily agree with "The Office"'s Michael Scott's opinion that Wikipedia is "the best thing ever" because "anyone in the world can write anything they want about any subject, so you know you are getting the best possible information," we do love the fact that there is an entire page — complete with detailed references — dedicated to "Dave Mustaine feuds and rivalries." (In contrast, [SLAYER guitarist] Kerry King only has a sub-section of his Wikipedia page dedicated to feuds, while [TESTAMENT's] Chuck Billy and [SLAYER's] Tom Araya have nothing regarding any feuds at all on theirs.) Clearly fussin' and a-feudin' has, over the years been a part of the Mustaine M.O., something that becomes very apparent after just a brief conversation with the MEGADETH founder.
Unlike King — at least on this occasion — Mustaine is a loose cannon. Allotted a mere 15 minutes to interview him for this cover story, he at least has the courtesy to fill up every one of those 15 minutes with alternatingly bizarre, titillating and random anecdotes and pronouncements. A question regarding his recollections of the first European Clash of the Titans tour in 1990 ultimately results — after a rather circuitous route in which he completely fails to address the actual question, even slightly — in this unprovoked revelation. "There was talk about the Big Four [tour] happening, but it's not happening," says Mustaine. "I'm here to tell you right now. You're getting a scoop right now. The offer that we got just wasn't what we felt was fair."
So, unless Mustaine changes his mind or is offered more coin, we might have to be satisfied with the "Big Two" (plus TESTAMENT!) for now. But if Mustaine and King are making inroads to patching things up, who knows what the future holds for the rest of the people on his Wiki feud page (hugs for Fred Durst? a bouquet of flowers for Riki Rachtman?). For his part, the MEGADETH frontman seems ready to mend fences. "There was a period where we didn't get along," he admits. "[But] I was in my dressing room in Japan last month and [SLAYER drummer] Dave Lombardo comes in and said some really great stuff to me. Then I get off stage and Kerry is in there. It's like, wow, this is really, really cool. I took [King] aside and said, 'What did I do that pissed you off so bad? Because I'd really like to go back to when we were friends.'"
He is also apparently contrite for past transgressions. Sort of. "Whatever I said [in the past], whatever I did was regrettable. Probably a portion of it was not necessary. Probably a portion of it was necessary for me, but that doesn't mean that it was necessary for anybody else. We all say stuff… that's 19 years ago."
And, given the opportunity to prove his loyalty with, uh, brute force, Mustaine is willing to go there, too. "If Kerry and I were ever anywhere and somebody was trying to hurt him," he says, "I would stand by his side. I may not be his friend, but I consider him a friend of mine. For whatever has been said or done, I have been forgiven for a lot of terrible stuff, so how can I not forgive anybody? I've apologized to those guys, and I think we're on really good standing right now."
Thus, at least one part of Mustaine's Wikipedia feud page can be updated — by anyone in the world, apparently — to reflect his newfound camaraderie with SLAYER (just be sure to use this article as your reference, so it's "official"). But you just never know what can happen over the course of a 15-minute chat with the man. Again, pertinent to nothing I asked, he offers an opinion regarding a "Big Five," instead of Big Four, that leaves tourmates TESTAMENT entirely out of the picture. "For me, I always kind of thought it was like the Big Five," he postulates. "If you think about it, you've got MEGADETH, ANTHRAX, SLAYER and my old band. But what about EXODUS? They were there, too, man. Let's not forget. But I think just because of instability and stuff that goes on with bands, that they weren't included. The funny thing is that if anyone was unstable over those years, it was me." [Laughs]
The scads of MEGADETH members who have come and gone over the years can no doubt attest to some of that instability. Mustaine nonetheless managed to keep all but Canadian guitarist Glen Drover (who was replaced by ex-JAG PANZER guitarist Chris Broderick) around from 2007's "United Abominations" for his latest, "Endgame", a definite return to faster, thrashier material. It's a release that, in many ways, mirrors what SLAYER achieved on "World Painted Blood", a contemporary-sounding album that still acknowledges past achievements. It's one obvious reason why the pairing of the two bands in 2010 makes sense.
And not surprisingly, Mustaine has his own unique take on why it works so well. "It's like two mighty stags on opposite sides of a huge valley, and we know that we're wired to fight each other, but — you know what — we're coexisting. We're looking down there and seeing everything that's beneath us and in front of us and saying, 'This is great; there's enough for both of us. There's plenty to go around.' If we really celebrate, not only can we partake of all of this majesty down there; we can also exponentially continue to make it travel around the world."
We're not entirely sure what the "huge valley" and "majesty down there" is all about, but Mustaine is definitely feeling on top of the world, as it were ("My career right now is just exploding," he tells us), and maybe that's just what things look like from his perspective. Part of that elevated status, so to speak, is a feeling that he's ready for the responsibility of showing the next generation of bands how it's done. Maybe take them under his wing and share his wisdom. "I think the thing that's most rewarding right now is being put in that position," he says. "Being able to actually represent. I feel that I have the tools right now to assume that position and be a proud elder statesman. I've been around the block."
And perhaps his first lesson will include tips on how to avoid having a Wikipedia page dedicated to your feuds and rivalries. Or maybe he can just offer his rather lengthy experience creating feuds and rivalries as a cautionary tale. What not to do. Because, as we have established, somewhere down the line, there's always a price to be paid.
The February 2010 issue of Decibel magazine is on newsstands now
Singer Chris Cornell's (SOUNDGARDEN, AUDIOSLAVE) official web site has been updated with the following message:
"The 12-year break is over and school is back in session. Sign up now. Knights of the Soundtable ride again!"
To sign up, go to www.soundgardenworld.com.
Cornell told RollingStone.com in a July 2009 interview that while he and other former members of SOUNDGARDEN have been talking, they have not been discussing a much-rumored reunion. Instead, Cornell explained, "The only thing that we have talked about is trying to put together an album of B-sides and maybe a box set with some unreleased tracks we have. This is something we first talked about 10 years ago. We all feel it's time to do that, and we have a lot of fans out there, and we have a lot of new fans discovering our music, and I think the catalog and the legacy of the band has been ignored by the record label and previous management, so we decided to get together, and start working towards putting something like that out."
Cornell told The Pulse of Radio a while back that he hoped to see a collection of SOUNDGARDEN rarities come out, but that he was not directly involved. "I've sort of left that in Kim (Thayil, guitarist)'s world, because Kim had always talked about wanting to be in charge of doing, like, a box set or a B-sides album," he said. "That was something that he had mentioned years ago, and I'm sure at some point he will want to do it, and that's I guess when it'll get done. I don't know how much actual unreleased stuff is out there, but there's definitely some SOUNDGARDEN rarities stuff that the average fan has not heard and it would be nice to put out."
SOUNDGARDEN recorded a large amount of B-sides, including cover songs and original tracks, that were mostly released on European singles and EPs. Many of them are now difficult to find.
Cornell denied to RollingStone.com that the band would reunite for a tour in 2010, but left the door open, saying, "I've always said nothing is impossible . . . I want to be open to anything, but nothing has changed in terms of our attitude toward it. It takes somebody to really stand up and say, 'We should do this, we have to go do this, let's go do this,' and so far, no one has raised their hand to do that. Still, it's not impossible."
SOUNDGARDEN broke up in 1997 after five albums, but rumors started swirling early last year about a reunion, with one source telling The Pulse of Radio directly that negotiations were underway.
Thayil, bassist Ben Shepherd and drummer Matt Cameron did stage a partial reunion at a March 2009 Tom Morello show in Seattle, playing a handful of SOUNDGARDEN songs with Tad Doyle singing.
Cornell had been touring in support of his 2008 Timbaland -produced solo album, "Scream", which has bitterly divided fans over its urban pop sound.
BLACK LABEL SOCIETY mainman Zakk Wylde (ex-OZZY OSBOURNE) is currently working on the band's new album in his newly-constructed home studio just outside of Los Angeles, CA. Recording will continue throughout January/February with the hopes to being mixing the follow-up to 2006's Shot To Hell in April. The album is expected in June and as for a tour, Wylde says that "we'll be hittin' everywhere worldwide for well over a year."
In a recent interview with Ultimate-Guitar.com, Wylde explained his exit from the Ozzy camp: "Well, you know, I love Ozz and I've always got his back so whatever it is he wants to do. Without Ozzy, there'd be no Zakk Wylde; there'd be no Black Label. When Ozz would do the SABBATH stuff, he'd say, 'Guys, I'm going away for a while; I'm gonna be doing Sabbath.' This is back when Mike [Bordin] joined ALICE IN CHAINS and I started doing the P&G stuff even before Black Label. He was like, 'Guys if anything comes up, you guys should do somethin' because I don't know how long I'll be with the guys [Sabbath]. It could be a year or two years.'
Ozz has always been cool. Even when we did Down To Earth , Ozz was like, 'Zakk, I write these songs with all these other guys and I don't want to fuckin' rewrite a whole record. Can you just come in and wail on the fuckin' songs and shit like that? And we'll go out on the road.' And I said, 'Yeah, Ozz, no problem; whatever the fuck you want to do, man'."
RUFFIANS, the reunited power metal band from the San Francisco Bay Area , has scheduled the following dates:
April 01 - Gloppe - Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
April 02 - Sounds - Lübeck, Germany (RockTower Festival Warm-Up Show)
April 03 - RockTower Festival - Lübeck, Germany
April 04 - Treue - Bremen, Germany
RUFFIANS' latest 11-track studio album, "Desert of Tears", is available in the U.S. on OSM Records and in Europe on Metal Heaven Records. A bonus video track, "Do or Die", is available on the OSM release. Also available exclusively through OSM Records is the double-disc "There & Back", which includes the band's critically acclaimed first EP titled "Ruffians" along with six live tracks from The Stone in San Francisco. These tracks feature the band's first singer Carl Albert before he went on to front VICIOUS RUMORS. The double disc also features '87 demo material, a video track from the band's Bang Your Head!!! festival 2004 appearance and photo gallery.
HIM frontman Ville Valo recently spoke to Billboard.com about the band's forthcoming album, Screamworks. An excerpt from the chat is available below.
"This is the first album I wrote fully sober, and I wanted to put all the energy I used to put into hanging out in pubs into working on the music . So it was pretty insane, working 18-hour days for the past year, year and a half. We really went for all those details and didn't leave any stone unturned. Hopefully it shows."
Swedish glam-rock band CRASHDIET has set "Generation Wild" as the title of its third album, due late March via Gain Records. The 10-song CD was helmed by RamPac, the production and songwriting team formed by Johan Ramström and Patrik Magnusson, in Gröndal, Sweden and is currently being mixed by Tobias Lindell. The title track will hit Swedish radio stations in January. Other songtitles set to appear on the album include "Native Nature", "Chemical", "Rebel" and "Down With The Dust".
Commented guitarist Martin Sweet: "This album is definitely a return to the sound and feel of [CRASHDIET's debut alum] 'Rest in Sleaze'."
CRASHDIET earlier in the year announced the addition of Simon "Simme" Cruz from the Stockholm act JAILBAIT as the group's new lead singer . A new demo track, "Caught In Despair", featuring the band's latest addition is available for streaming below.
CRASHDIET parted ways with its last vocalist, the Finland-based H. Olliver Twisted, in July 2008. "We need a singer who can commit 100%, which unfortunately Olli couldn't live up to," the group stated at the time. "He, as many know about, has another band in Finland and we couldn't settle for sharing our time. We want to go further than any band has done before and we can't afford to spend time just waiting. We need to function as a full unit, all the time!"
CRASHDIET's sophomore album, "The Unattractive Revolution", entered the Swedish chart at position No. 11 back in October 2007. The CD was mixed in the United States by Kevin Churko.
"The Unattractive Revolution" features a guest appearance on two tracks by MÖTLEY CRÜE guitarist Mick Mars, who flew into Stockholm, Sweden in June 2007 to help CRASHDIET write some of the material.
H. Olliver Twisted joined CRASHDIET as the replacement for David Hellman (a.k.a. Dave Lepard), who committed suicide in January 2006.
According to The Orange County Register, AVENGED SEVENFOLD drummer James Owen Sullivan (a.k.a. The Rev) was found dead at his home on Monday (December 28). He was 28 years old.
Sullivan appears to have died of natural causes, Huntington Beach police Lt. John Domingo told The Orange County Register. Police were notified by firefighters who had responded to Sullivan's home about 1 p.m., according to the report.
Sullivan is survived by his wife, Leana MacFadden.
In addition to playing drums for AVENGED SEVENFOLD, The Rev was a prolific songwriter, having contributed the track "A Little Piece of Heaven" (see video below) to the band's fourth studio CD, 2007's "Avenged Sevenfold".
"The Rev is very good at coming in with full songs," singer M. Shadows said in a 2007 interview with Revolver magazine. "That guy's a piece of work; he's badass and he's a great writer. He walked in with 'A Little Piece of Heaven', and it was like an eight-minute movie that he wrote and had in his brain; nothing was on a recorder — he just walked in, one-fingered it on the piano, played drums over it, and was like, 'That's the song. Let's bring some string guys in to work on the string arrangements.' And we were like, 'Fuck yeah, dude!'"
"I can write in any style that I choose," The Rev said in the same interview. "And I've always been heavily been influenced by Danny Elfman, OINGO BOINGO, MR. BUNGLE, and bands like that. With all the different parts and the cinematic feel, I thought it called for lyrics that told a story, too. Without giving too much away, it's about a couple: First the boyfriend kills the girlfriend, and then the girlfriend comes back and repossesses her body and kills the boyfriend; then he comes back and repossesses his body and apologizes, and they get married. And then they start killing everyone at their wedding. I just had a lot of fun with that one!"
According to Reuters, AVENGED SEVENFOLD in recent years tried to live down its reputation for debauchery. Sullivan, in particular, had raised eyebrows after a 2006 cover story in metal magazine Revolver described his penchant for cocaine and other drugs.
"The press was all like, 'They want to be GUNS N' ROSES; all they care about is partying, all they care about is girls,'" Shadows complained in the 2007 Revolver interview. "We've all got steady girlfriends; I've got a fiancée. I'm not out there banging every groupie and getting hammered every night. I drank twice on the whole Asian tour, because I was dealing with the record, which was still being mastered, and I was trying to keep my voice fresh. We're not a bunch of drugged-out friggin' wannabes that don't give a shit about their music or their fans."
"No one could get anything done if they were completely out of control all the time," seconded The Rev. "Everyone likes to go out and have a few drinks with their best friends; I don't think anyone on the planet doesn't like to do that."
AVENGED SEVENFOLD's last release was the DVD/CD package "Live in the LBC & Diamonds in the Rough", which came out in September 2008. The live DVD features the band's April 2008 hometown show at the Long Beach Arena headlining the Rockstar Taste of Chaos tour, while the CD contains previously unreleased b-sides that were recorded during the making of "Avenged Sevenfold", plus various covers, and other never-before-heard material. The DVD was directed by Core Entertainment's Rafa Alcantara, who also worked on the band's critically acclaimed 2007 road documentary "All Excess".
AVENGED SEVENFOLD has issued the following statement regarding the passing of the band's drummer, James Owen Sullivan (a.k.a. The Rev):
"It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we tell you of the passing today of Jimmy 'The Rev' Sullivan.
"Jimmy was not only one of the world's best drummers, but more importantly, he was our best friend and brother.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jimmy's family and we hope that you will respect their privacy during this difficult time."
According to The Orange County Register, James Owen Sullivan was found dead at his home on Monday (December 28). He was 28 years old.
Sullivan appears to have died of natural causes, Huntington Beach police Lt. John Domingo told The Orange County Register. Police were notified by firefighters who had responded to Sullivan's home about 1 p.m., according to the report.
Members of PAPA ROACH, BUCKCHERRY and SHADOWS FALL have commented on the passing of AVENGED SEVENFOLD drummer James "The Rev" Sullivan.
PAPA ROACH (via Twitter): "This is a sad day for rock and roll. RIP, Jimmy 'Rev' Sullivan. You will be greatly missed, my friend."
BUCKCHERRY (via Twitter): "The Rev... You will be missed. Rest in peace, our brother from the road. The entire A7X family is in our thoughts."
Vocalist Brian Fair of SHADOWS FALL (via AOL's Noisecreep): "The Rev was truly one of a kind. No one threw it down quite like he did. He will be missed terribly. May he rest in peace."
Drummer Jason Bittner of SHADOWS FALL (via AOL's Noisecreep): "He was a good kid, a great drummer, and generally a funny fucking dude to be around."
Sullivan was found dead at his Southern California home on Monday (December 28). He was 28 years old.
Sullivan appears to have died of natural causes, Huntington Beach police Lt. John Domingo told The Orange County Register. Police were notified by firefighters who had responded to Sullivan's home about 1 p.m., according to the report.
Sullivan is survived by his wife, Leana MacFadden.
Swedish rockers THE POODLES have issued the following update:
"Arguably, 2009 has been the busiest year so far for The Poodles since the big breakthrough in 2006. We have seen the birth of our third album Clash Of The Elements, which by now has been released all over Europe and with a planned release in Japan in early 2010. The spring of 2009 was entirely dedicated to finishing the new album and preparing for its release at the end May.
The release party was a clash all in itself with friends and press (enemies, perhaps?) gathered at Café Opera for a night to remember.
The Poodles was a regular on TV during the spring as well as the fall of 2009. Memorable appearences were Babben&Co (SVT), Sommarkrysset (TV4), and Go Kväll (SVT). During the late fall, there were also dates on anything from Dansbandskampen, to Faddergalan (with Robert Wells).
In the summer heat, the band was busy planning the mainland European release of Clash of the Elements and a quite ambitious European tour to follow up the release, all done in between shows.
At the crossroads of October-November, The Poodles went headfirst into a three-week European tour that took the band from England to Spain and everywhere between. Along for the ride were swedish opening-act DYNAZTY who helped the band set fire to the hearts and minds of anyone in attendance.
Despite having the tour cut short due to a severe case of the flu that incapacitated Jake for over three weeks, the shows that were carried out were nothing short of spectacular. The tour showed the band that the album had been well received by both fans and critics.
After a few shows to end the year, The Poodles are looking forward to 2010 with a planned release of Clash of the Elements in remaining territories as well as a live-DVD which features the band on tour in Sweden during the summer 2008 and 2009. A must for any Poodle-fan.
We wish to extend a sincere thanks to all our fans and friends for an exciting year and we hope to see all of you again somewhere on the road in 2010.
Happy New Year!"
Californian metallers LIZZY BORDEN have scheduled the following dates:
Feb. 04 - Santa Clara, CA - Avalon
Feb. 05 - Santa Rosa, CA - Last Day Saloon
Feb. 06 - San Diego, CA - 4th & B
LIZZY BORDEN singer /namesake was interviewed by "Wyldside Radio" on July 11, 2009 prior to the band's performance at the Rocklahoma festival in Pryor, Oklahoma. Watch the question-and-answer session below.
LIZZY BORDEN's current lineup includes 20-year-old guitarist Dario Lorina. At age 16, he was recognized for his passion and what some may call exceptional talent, and began touring with multi-platinum songwriter and WARRANT frontman Jani Lane. During that time Dario strongly created a reputation and name for himself as a player and gained the respect of many, thus giving him the opportunity to play with various notable artists.
Dario has been touring consistently throughout the USA and Europe since 2006.
LIZZY BORDEN's current lineup:
Lizzy Borden - Vocals
Marten Andersson - Bass
Chris Sanders - Guitar
Joey Scott - Drums
Dario Lorina - Guitar
Guitarist Ira Black announced his departure from LIZZY BORDEN in February 2009.
The previously announced hard rock and heavy metal concert to raise money to help in the search for missing Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington has been rescheduled for January 16 at the Hat Factory in Richmond, Virginia.
WHIPLASH, AT WAR and DANGEROUS NEW MACHINE will take part in the event, which will be held almost exactly three months after Morgan Harrington was last seen at a METALLICA concert in Charlottesville. All proceeds will go to the Find Morgan Fund, which supports the Harrington family's ongoing search efforts.
Scheduled performers:
DANGEROUS NEW MACHINE
WHIPLASH
SAINT DIABLO
AT WAR
MEMORY FADE
Tickets will be made available the day of the show at the door — $15.00 all ages. Doors open 8 p.m., by a candlelight vigil. So come out and show your support.
Hat Factory
140 Virginia Street
Richmond, VA
Tel.: 804-788-4281
info@hatfactoryva.com
Guitarist Brian Delaney has left Irish doom titans MOURNING BELOVETH and has been replaced by Pauric Gallagher (DECAYOR). The band states, "After more than a decade of inebriation and abuse, adventure and struggle, and four albums straight from the heart, Brian has decided that his journey with us as an active part of MOURNING BELOVETH has run its course. Not an easy decision; those of you that know us know the major part Brian played in developing the unique MOURNING BELOVETH sound."
The group adds, "Some bonds are made not to be broken, and this is one of them."
Regarding MOURNING BELOVETH's plans for 2010, the band says, "Along with the re-launch of www.mourningbeloveth.com, complete with our brand new web-store, the imminent release of the split 10" with Irish gutter dwellers WRECK OF THE HESPERUS, April sees us take the stage for Doom Shall Rise VII, our second appearance at the hallowed Church of Doom and a gig in London in May with our friends ESOTERIC will see us cross the pond to our first show in England in maybe five years."
ONSLAUGHT, SHINING and DESASTER are the first confirmed bands for the Metal Feast festival, set to take place September 3-4, 2010 in Adelsheim, Germany.
For more information, visit www.metal-feast.de.
END OF GREEN, DELAIN, DEBAUCHERY, THE OTHER and HACKNEYED have been confirmed for next year's edition of the Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place August 5-7, 2010 in Wacken, Germany.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
1349
ALICE COOPER
ARCH ENEMY
AMORPHIS
ATROCITY
CALIBAN
CANDLEMASS
CANNIBAL CORPSE
CORVUS CORAX
CRUCIFIED BARBARA
DEBAUCHERY
DELAIN
DESPISED ICON
DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER
DIE KASSIERER
EDGUY
EQUILIBRIUM
END OF GREEN
ENDSTILLE
EVILE
FIDDLER'S GREEN
GHOST BRIGADE
GRAVE DIGGER
HACKNEYED
IHSAHN
IMMORTAL
IRON MAIDEN
KAMPFAR
KATAKLYSM
LAKE OF TEARS
MÖTLEY CRÜE
NIGHTMARE
ORDEN OGAN
ORPHANED LAND
PRIMAL FEAR
SECRET OF THE MOON
SLAYER
SÓLSTAFIR
STRATOVARIUS
SUICIDAL ANGELS
THE DEVIL'S BLOOD
THE OTHER
TIAMAT
TYR
U.D.O.
W.A.S.P.
INCANTATION, GENERAL SURGERY, THE 11TH HOUR and ACROSTICHON have been confirmed for the Stonehenge "underground metal festival," set to take place Saturday, July 31, 2010 at De Buze in Steenwijk, The Netherlands.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
ACROSTICHON
CARACH ANGREN
CATTLE DECAPITATION
GENERAL SURGERY
GOROD
GOTHMINISTER
HACRIDE
INCANTATION
MOKER
THE 11TH HOUR
For more information, visit www.stonehengefestival.nl.
Singer and flamboyant front person Agnete Kjølsrud of ANIMAL ALPHA, drummer Erlend Gjerde of STONEGARD/WARDRUNA and guitarist Stian Kårstad of TRELLDOM have teamed up in a new project called DJERV which explores the borderlines between rock, metal and black metal.
DJERV was formed as a result of both ANIMAL ALPHA and STONEGARD splitting up during the past year. STONEGARD was laid to rest due to internal conflicts just as their new album was out and weeks prior to a two-month European tour with ENSLAVED. ANIMAL ALPHA called it quits after extensive touring took them all across the world – finally getting the better of them.
Almost a year in the making, DJERV is "consciously pulling threads" of the bandmembers' former groups into the new outfit's sound, according to a press release.
"I guess we all felt our original bands had qualities we should bring along into this constellation," Erlend states. "By all means, DJERV is a new band with a new sound, but you can easily tell who's singing to put it that way. Agnete's incredible voice and personality was the main characteristic of ANIMAL ALPHA, but we have consciously worked towards a more sinister expression. The overall sound is stripped down, groove-oriented and melodic, yet Stian's cold black metal-influenced riffing underpins the dark moods of the music."
The band is currently writing material for its debut album, which it hopes to record during the spring and summer of 2010.
"We hope to release a single and a video before the festival season kicks off and hopefully we get to play some festivals this summer as I really cannot wait to get on stage again," Agnete says. "I miss that thing happening when I meet the audience. It's magic, I love them!"
FULL SCALE RIOT, the band featuring Tim McMurtrie (rhythm guitar ; original member of M.O.D.), has parted ways with Rob Moschetti (vocals/lead guitar; ex-PRO-PAIN) due to "differences" and has teamed up with Kevone (BULLDOZE) on lead vocals.
FULL SCALE RIOT is returning to the studio and will be putting new music out in the spring.
Commented Tim: "I just wanted to get back to where it all began for me with M.O.D. So hardcore fans get ready, I'm coming home!"
FULL SCALE RIOT will play its first show on Saturday, February 20, 2010 at Dingbatz in Clifton, New Jersey. The band's setlist will reportedly include many of the classics from M.O.D., S.O.D. and BULLDOZE.
Huntsville, Alabama death metallers CHAOS INCEPTION have released their debut album, "Collision With Oblivion", via Colombia's Brutalized Records. The CD was engineered by Lance Wright (VILE, ABRAXAS, QUINTA ESSENTIA) and it features "brutal, technically precise death metal in the vein of MORBID ANGEL, NILE and ANGELCORPSE," according to a press release.
"Collision With Oblivion" track listing:
01. Becoming Adversary
02. Collision With Oblivion
03. Black Vapor of Corruption Rise
04. The Scourge Infinitum
05. Desolate Beyond
06. Hand Of Defamation
07. Pig Flesh Decimator
08. Tyrant Denied
09. Regicide
10. Impurified
CHAOS INCEPTION is:
Chris White (ex-BLOOD STAINED DUSK) - Vocals
Cameron Pinkerton (ex-SPINECAST) - Bass
Matt Barnes - (QUINTA ESSENTIA, ex-FLESHTIZED, LISIYA GORI) - Guitar
Gary White (ex-FLESHTIZED, CONVERGENCE FROM WITHIN) - Drums
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/chaosinception.
German black metallers MEMBARIS will release their third full-length album, "Grenzgänger", in early 2010 via ARTicaz. According to a press releaese, the music on the follow-up to 2007's "Into Nevermore" ranges from chaotic, aggressive, cold but yet melodic black metal to more meditative sound structures that can best be described as ambient/noise in the vein of the Scandinavian originators of these genres. The CD features German and English lyrics dealing with astronomy, fatalism, the idea of eternity and the fragility of life. The record will feature an exceptional artwork done by the paintress Fina Krüger, who has contributed her own vision to each of the songs.
Black Metal has always been music for those able and willing to cross physical and emotional borders in life and beyond. With "Grenzgänger" (which can be translated as "wanderer among the borders"), MEMBARIS proclaim its new musical interpretation of this lifestyle.
Commented guitarist B.: "This time we really wanted to know how far we can go with our vision. As we totally created this beast by our own, we were able to leave all boundaries behind that distorted our music in the past. We wanted to create something that is not easy to follow, nor to understand. We wanted to draw pictures people from the ordinary world wouldn't enjoy to look at."
A song from the upcoming album , "Realisation Of The Demon", is available for streaming on the MEMBARIS MySpace page.
MEMBARIS this year celebrates its 10th year of existence.
SAEL, the French black metal band which features in its ranks members of ASMODEE, REVERENCE, OFFENDING and ACARUS SARCOPT, will release its debut album, "The Sixth Extinction", on April 30, 2010 via Pictonian Records. The CD was recorded at the Drudenhaus (ANOREXIA NERVOSA, ASMODEE, REVERENCE, ULTRA VOMIT, NECROBLASPHEME) and Echoes (ANNTHENNATH, OTARGOS, OFFENDING, ANGMAR) studios and will be mixed and mastered by Neb Xort at the Drudenhaus in early 2010.
"The Sixth Extinction" track listing:
01. Being Judas
02. Priest Of Nothingness
03. The Venom
04. Mantra Of The Fourth Age
05. Inner Wrath
06. I Searched For The End Of The Spiral
07. The Sixth Extinction
The CD artwork, which was created by Costin Chioreanu of Twilight13Media (DECREPIT SPECTRE, GRAVE), can be viewed below.
SAEL is:
Boris: Vocals
Iconoclast: Guitar /Vocals
Arioch: Guitar
Mgp: Bass/Fx
Vr: Drums
Py Marani: Keyboards
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/moonlitmutilation.
GOSPEL OF THE HORNS, GEHENNA and TULUS are among the confirmed bands for the Festung Open Air festival, set to take place May 22-23, 2010 at Glider Airfield in Renneritz, Germany.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
TULUS (N)
GOSPEL OF THE HORNS (AUS)
GEHENNA (N)
VOMITOR (AUS)
KRYPTOS (IND)
More acts will be announced soon.
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